The French restaurant where Naperville families marked birthdays, anniversaries, and Tuesday dinners is gone.
Paris Bistro, the independent crepe-and-pastry spot at 2656 Showplace Drive in the Naperville Crossings shopping center, permanently closed Sunday, June 7, after 13 years on the Route 59 corridor. The closure leaves a vacancy in the ALDI-anchored strip center managed by Phillips Edison & Company, with no announced replacement tenant.
The restaurant's owners posted a farewell letter on social media that day, writing that their goal "was never to be a cookie-cutter corporate chain, but a true, independent, family-owned business deeply rooted in this community." They thanked customers for sharing "celebrations, family dinners, and everyday moments."
Dozens of residents left comments mourning the closure. "We have loved Paris Bistro since it was in the smaller location," wrote Karen W., a Naperville resident. "It was our 'go to' for dinner out."
What happened
Court records tell a harder story than the farewell letter. Paris Bistro filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2024 in the Northern District of Illinois. A brief filed in early June 2026 said the business "had to cease operations immediately due to an inability to meet payroll," according to the Chicago Tribune's reporting on the court filings.
The bankruptcy documents traced the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant "operated successfully for several years" before the pandemic caused "significant revenue losses," the brief stated. The owners took on loans to survive, but the accumulated debt, combined with falling behind on rent, forced them into bankruptcy protection.
Even after filing, the restaurant tried to recover. The brief noted that income "declined dramatically" despite menu changes and community outreach. The business requested dismissal of its bankruptcy case in early June, and a court date was scheduled for June 30.
Owner Jonathon Santos had publicly disclosed the restaurant's financial struggles in September 2024, when he appeared before the Naperville City Council urging the city to lift its ban on video gambling to help businesses like his survive.
The space's history
Founder Irina Haydon opened Paris Bistro in 2013 at 2835 Showplace Drive. According to the Tribune, Haydon was inspired by her trips to Paris and wanted to offer Naperville diners an alternative to chain restaurants. The menu featured sweet and savory crepes, salads, and French pastries.
The restaurant moved to the larger unit at 2656 Showplace Drive in 2021. Santos later opened Katrina Latin Bites & Bar at the original location, but that restaurant also closed.
Representatives for Paris Bistro did not return requests for comment from the Naperville Sun at the time of the June 9 report on the closure.
What's next for the space
No incoming tenant has been publicly announced for 2656 Showplace Drive. The Naperville Crossings center sits along the stretch of Route 59 where a $4.6 million Illinois Department of Transportation resurfacing project is scheduled to begin Monday, July 13, with intermittent daytime lane closures running through November.
Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission agendas show no pending applications for the address. Residents can check for updates at naperville.il.us.
